What are the exceptional circumstances in which absence will be authorised?

[Suddengeekgirl]

Have just been told that ds' aunt's wedding will not be an authorised absence. We may/ may not be fined.

What are the circumstances where absence is authorised?

School receptionist said only court dates and family death! Is that it?

In other words, each LEA and each Head act differently. So no real national policy at all.

I wonder how many bridezilla threads we are going to get, from invitees with school age children, to weddings held on weekdays.

Our district website says that weddings/funerals are classed as exception circumstances and would be allowed

North Kesteven

Absences are only allowed for specific reasons. These include situations where your child:

is ill;
has an unavoidable medical or dental appointment;
is taking part in a religious event;
has an exceptional family circumstance, for example, a wedding or funeral.

Plus, what does the fine actually go towards

It goes to the LA. This is so that the school does not have any financial incentive to issue fines.

You know what, I'm not bothered about it not bring granted. I'm not even bothered about the possibility of a fine.

It's the implication that by taking my child out of school for a close family member's wedding I am being neglectful or negligent.
That's what upsets me. :(

Sudden. try not to take it personally. If you think about it, if any of the parents at your particular school tried to do the same, they would have exactly the same response.
Change schools, and LEA however, you may get a different answer.

Perhaps, according to what tiggy has just posted, you wont get a fine for what you would like to do.

Dd had 3 days off to travel to and attend a family funeral. She also had 1 day off to see her father who only visits twice a year on his terms.
Both authorised by her head teacher.

taking a child out of school without permission (or illness) is a criminal offence.

So, presumably everyone taking UA will get a criminal record for it? And if not, why not?

Or is it just another one of those stupid inconsistencies...

Wish I could answer your question, OP. I'm taking 4 DC out; I've got AA from School1, UA but "Wow sounds great have a great time!" from school2 and long letter about how to get AA from School3.

I've just checked our council website and they haven't updated it!. Still says you're allowed ten days though it may not be granted.

I will be taking dd out in September for our Church weekend away - basically a retreat. I won't actually need to take her till after afternoon registration and I won't be asking permission, just saying I need to pick her up early for reasons connected with our religious practice.

It's all about the Ofsted grades. Thats's all the school cares about, so of course they're not going to authorise a frivolous absence as it reflects on their Ofsted grades consequently on the head's performance and ultimately the head's career at that school.

I can see that everyone will just outright lie and pretend their child is ill to avoid a fine.
It will cause disharmony amongst staff and parents but what can the head do? Their hands are tied by red tape.

A holiday I'm booking will drop £600 in price if I booked it a week later. If it wasn't for one of my children starting Junior school I'd have booked those dates, but I don't want them to miss the first day of Junior school.

If I book another holiday, I won't hesitate next time to take the cheaper week even if it runs into term time.

My teen was granted few days compassionate leave when her brother was born and in scbu

I've lost count over the school years how many non existent family members we killed off to attend funerals.

Thats contradictory; I was pretty sure that if the FPN was paid that no criminal proceedings would proceed. But Tiggy implied that criminal offence applies anyway once the offence is committed, regardless of how penalty applied or met. I think confusion between civil & criminal law, maybe??!!

Analogy doesn't work. Speeding is different because we all get away with it until we're caught. UA is pretty easy to detect by comparison.

I cant find anything on North Yorkshire County Council website either.

Our LA has issued v specific guidance to schools.

A wedding may be authorised only if the child has a significant role eg bridesmaid.

Holidays only if someone in the immediate family is terminally ill.

Can't remember what it said about funerals.

they're not going to authorise a frivolous absence as it reflects on their Ofsted grades consequently on the head's performance and ultimately the head's career at that school.

Exactly!!

So much in educaiton is now about managing statistics. It is really quite tragic. Common sense has gone out the window as teacher and heads try desperately to ensure 'every child makes expected progress' blah blah.

I hate it when the 'teachers don't care about my child's education when they go on strike' line comes up. Teachers are striking about the same issues that parents object to - treating us all like idiots who have no idea how to teach/parent.

No wonder teacher recruitment is so difficult in some areas.

My children were allowed a day off for my wedding, it's up to the head teacher not the receptionist!!!

I understand that school absence figures will not look good if there are too many authorised absences but how many are too many? For example, in a school of say 500-600 does anyone know how many absences the HT could agree to without it causing a potential problem with Ofsted?

What about schools that place children on part time timetables, sometimes for months at a time? These have to be recorded as authorised absences don't they?

As far as Ofsted is concerned, there is no distinction between authorised and unauthorised absence. All absence is taken into consideration.

I have seen an Ofsted report for a school that had just below 90% attendance overall and it was judged Inadequate for behaviour and safeguarding based on the fact that attendance was too low.

OK, it goes without saying that there were other major issues in the school. However, HTs are under enormous pressure to maintain attendance rates, and the 'I will pay the fine as a two week holiday in Turkey is £1700 in term time and £4500 in the school holidays' view from many parents (quite legitimately) won't help.